Carrier



C- BROWN Nov. 23 1926.

CARRIER Filed Jan. 24. 1925 3 Sheets-$heet l Um fl/WZ fl} INVENTOR I A'ITORNEY .6- WITNESS: T q

Nov. 23,1926. 1,608,366

C. BROWN mama Filed m. 24. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 um firazwz,

ATTORNEY WITNESS: I

Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,366

/ C- BROWN CARRIER Filed Jan. 24. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet s 6566/? firazwz,

. ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Nev. 23, 1926.

warren sr'rss CLARE BRQWN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CARRIER.

Application filed January This invention relates to carriers of the aerial or suspended type and has for an object the provision of a carrier by means of which material may be transported, de-

posited and the carrier returned to its former or loading position with the aid of a single operator, the invention being -espe cially adapted for moving manure from a stable or barn to a desired location.

More specifically stated, the invention provides a carrier which may be loaded and its operation manually started, whereupon the carrier will travel with its load to a predetermined point, will automatically dump its load and automatically reverse its direction of travel so that it will be returned to its original position without requiring the services of an operator to travel with the carrier or to be stationed at its point of unloading.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. I

Figure 2 is an end view showing the track in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating the controlling clutch.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the reversing switch of the motor.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the ratchet for controlling the direction of rotation of the operation shaft.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates the rails of a track which may be supported in any suitable manner, such as by hangers 11. This track supports a carr1age which includes a frame 12 and grooved traction wheels 13, the latter operating over the rails 10.

Mounted within suitable bearings provided in the carriage or frame 12 is an op erating shaft 14. This shaft extends longi- 24, 1925. Serial No. 4,585.

tudinally of the carriage and has mounted for free rotation and longitudinal sliding movement thereon a gear 15. The gear 15 is engaged and driven by a gear 16, the latter being mounted upon the shaft of a motor 17. The motor is suitably supported upon the frame 12 of the carriage and receives current from the rails 10 through collector brushes 18. These brushes are included in circuit with the motor 17 by means of conductor wires 19, the latter being connected to a reversing switch 20 which is provided with an operating handle 21. This handle is adapted to be engaged to move the switch so that the latter will engage spaced contact pins 21 and 22 to rotate the motor in one direction, or contact pins 22 and 23 to rotate the motor in an opposite direction. A manually operated switch 24 is included in the motor circuit so that the motor may receive current from a suitable source indicated at 25.

Secured upon the shaft 14 is a sleeve 26 and carried by this sleeve is a gear 27 which engages a gear 28, the latter being secured upon a shaft 29 which is rotatable in suitable bearings provided in the frame 12. The gear 28 engages a gear 30 and this last mentioned gear is secured to one of the shafts 31 upon which the grooved traction wheels 13 are mounted. The end of the sleeve 26 opposite the gearv27 is provided with a clutch face 32 which is adapted to engage the. adjacent face of a clutch member 33 which extends from one side of the gear 15. The opposite side of the gear 15 has extending therefrom a clutch face 34 which is adapted to engage a clutch member 35 fast upon the shaft 14. Thus, when the clutch members 32 and 33 are engaged and the motor operated, power will be supplied to the t'ractionwheels 13 so as to move the carriage along the track.

Mounted upon the shaft 14 are drums 36 and wound upon these drums are the upper ends of chains or cables 37. The lower ends of these chains or cables are secured as indicated at 38 to the opposite ends of a receptacle 39, the point of connection between the chains and receptacle being slightly to one side of its vertical center so that the receptacle may readily tilt in one direction. Tilting in this direction however is prevented by means of stop lugs 40 which are secured to the opposite ends of the con tainer and which engage the chains 37 Operatively associated with the slidable indicated at a is an angle lever 59.

members 33 and 34 of the clutch as indi catcd st ll is clutch arm or lever 4:2. ilhis arm is longitudinally slotted as indicated at 13 and receives a pivot pin a l whichis carried by a cam dish 4-5. This dish is provided with a pin 4-8 which extends from one face upon opposite sides of the clutch arm 12, the pins being adapted to engage the arm when the disl: is rotated. Rigid with the disk is a substantially l.-.shaped arm 49 whose outer extremity is provided with a right angularly disposed portion 50 which is located in the path of upward movement of the receptacle 39. Extending from the periphery of the dish 45 is an offset or cam portion 51 having" a notch 52 therein. The walls of this notch are engaged by a spring actuated plunger 53 which is mounted for moven'ient upon the frame 12. V

Pivotally mounted upon the frame 12 as Une arm of this lever extends horizontally inward and is adapted to be engaged by a stop ho'which is secured to one rail 12 of the traclr. 'llhevertically disposed arm of the angle lever 59 extends downward and is adapted to be moved to engage the receptacle 39 for a purpose to be later explained. The step 513 is also located in the path of the operating handle 21 of the reversing switch 20.

Secured upon the shaft 1 is a ratchet wheel 60' which is adapted to be engaged by a spring actuated dog 61 carried by the frame ofthe carriage.

In the operation of the invention, the receptacle is lowered by manually moving the clutch members 33 and 3a to a neutral position, illustrated in Figure l of the drawings, and by disengaging the dog 61 from the ratchet wheel 0 so as to permit of the rotation of the shaft 14: and conse quent unwinding; of the chains 37. The clutch is then manually operated to engage the clutch members. 34: and 35, in whichposition the spring actuated plunger 53 will engage the notch 52 in the cam disir d5. l l hen current is applied to the motor 17 through closing the switch 24;, the shaft 141 will be rotated to wind the chains 37 upon the drums 36 and raise the receptacle 3%). its the right angled portion 50 of the lever 19 is disposed in the path of upward movement of the receptacle 39, the lever 4:9 will be swung pivotally upward as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1. The plunger 53 will yield and be disengaged from the notch 52 whereupon one of the beveled faces 01 the plunger will en age the upper inclined face of the camextension 50 and will act to quickly rotate the cam so as to cause the clutch members 32 and 33 to engage. Motion will thus be imparted to the traction wheels .13 through the gearing previously arm of theangle lever 59 engages the stop 56, the vertical arm of this lever will be moved pivotally inward to engage the side of the receptacle 39, the latter being in the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. This wlll overbalance the receptacle and cause the latter to tilt and dump its load. Immediately following the dumpn operation, the operating handle 21 of h reversing switch 20 will engage the stop 56 so as to throw the switchand cause the latter to engage the contacts 22 and 23. The polarity of the motor will thus be reversed and the carriage will reverse its directionof.

travel. fl hen the carriage reaches the loading point its travel may b stopped by opening the switch 241-. l

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

wing described the invention what is red is 1. wner comprising a' receptacle, a ca riage, a track supporting the carriage, a

motor, a shaft supported by the carriage,

flexible means connecting the receptacle and shaft, a clutch member fast upon the shaft,

carriage operating mechanism, a clutch member rotatable upon the shaft and operatively associated vith the carriage .operating mechanism, a clutch member slidable upon the shaft between the fast clutch member and the rotatable clutch member and operatively associated with the motor, means to control the operation of the motor to control the operation of the shaft and elevate the receptacle when the slidalole clutch member is engaged with the fast clutch men'iber, means to holdsaid members in out aged position and means located in the path of upward movement of the receptacle to release the holding means and cause engagement between the slidable clutch member and the rotatable clutch member to operate the carriage. l

2. A. carrier comprising a receptacle, a carriage, a track supporting the carriage, a motor, a shaft supported by thefcarriage, flexible means connecting the receptacle and shaft, a clutch member fast upon the shaft, carriage operating mechanism, a clutch member rotatable upon the shaft and opcratively associated with the carriage op crating mechanism, a clutch member slidable upon the shaft between the fast clutch member and the rotatable clutch member and operatively associated with the motor, means to control the operation of the motor to control the operation of the shaft and 3. A carrier comprising a. receptacle, a

carriage, a track supporting the carriage, a motor, a shaft supported by the carriage, flexible means connecting the receptacle and shaft, a clutch member fast upon the shaft, carriage operating mechanism, a clutch member rotatable upon the shaft and operatively associated with the carriage operating mechanism, a. clutch member slidable upon the shaft between the fast clutch member and the rotatable. clutch member and operatively associated with the motor, means to control the operation of the motor to control the operation of the shaft and elevate the receptacle when the slidable clutch member is engaged with the fast clutch member, a pivotally mounted cam operatively associated with the slidable clutch member tocontrol the latter, a spring actuated plunger to hold the cam against movement, means associated with the cam and located in the path of upward movement of the receptacle to operate said cam and disengage the slidable clutch member from the fast clutch member and means included in the cam and acted upon by the spring actuated plunger to cause the slidable clutch member to engage the rotatable clutch member and operate the carriage.

4. A carrier comprising a receptacle, a carriage, a track supporting the carriage, a motor, a shaft supported by the carriage, flexible means connecting the receptacle and shaft, a clutch member fast upon the shaft, carriage operating mechanism, a clutch member rotatable upon the shaft and operatively associated with the carriage operating mechanism, a clutch member slidable upon the shaft between the fast clutch member and the rotatable clutch member and operatively associated with the motor, means to control the operation of the motor to control the operation of the shaft and elevate the receptacle when the slidable clutch member is engaged with the fast clutch member, a pivotally mounted cam operatively associated with the slidable clutch member and having its periphery provided with a recess and a cam surface. adjacent said recess, a spring actuated plunger engageable within the recess to yieldingly hold the slidable clutch member engaged with the fast clutch member and means rigid with the cam and located in the path of upward movement of the receptacle to move the cam pivotally to disengage the. plunger from the recess and disengage the slidable clutch from the fast clutch member, whereby, the cam, will be positioned to cause the spring actuated plunger to engage the cam at one side of the recess and move the slidable cam member into engagement with the rotatable cam member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLARE BROWN. 

